Scored only 490 , feeling dejected. Experts please advice

[sohailmbaprep]

I took GMAT 3 weeks back and scored dismal 490 (AWA 4.5 , IR 4 , Q 33 /VA 25).
My target score was anything above 650.

My studies started 1.5 years back with a score of 480 in GMAT Prep 1(without any preparation).

Then I started my studies and Study material that I used were:
1) OG 13
2)Manhattan SC guide
3)Powerscore bible's for CR(not book but good notes from a friend).
4) One High school level book to brush up my maths .
5) Online forums to clear doubts
6) BTG and Manhattan Flashcards

I had no fixed study hours ,I used to study whenever I could manage some time out of my hectic job.
In last 1.5 years there were months when I couldn't study. My study schedule was very erratic.

Gradually in 1.5 year ,I practiced OG 13's all questions and studied only the theory part from Manhattan SC(thrice) along with other materials.
I did just 5 or 6 RCs from OG but made my self fully aware with the kind of questions generally asked in RC in GMAT.
While practicing OG ,I used to keep marking questions that I couldn't get right in first attempt to review them later (which I did seriously and made small notes also) then I started taking mock tests from Manhattan.

I also used to keep going back to my notes and books while analyzing my tests to go through the basic theory/topic of the question that I couldn't answer correctly in the tests ,so that I strengthen my knowledge of that particular topic.

Scores with dates given below (never attempted AWA and IR in any test):-

560 (Q 37/ VA 30) on 10/21/12
580 (Q 37/ VA 32) on 11/13/12
540 (Q 37/ VA 28) on 01/05/13
590 (Q 44/ VA 27) on 01/23/13
560 (Q 39/ VA 29) on 03/30/13
620 (Q 42/ VA 33) on 05/01/13

1 night before the final day I took GMAT Prep2 and scored 620 (QA 45/ VA -don't remember).

But on final day my score was so low,where did I go wrong and now most importantly what should I do now to get my targeted score.(Now I am targeting 680).
My profile is of Indian IT Male and age is 28.5 years already so feeling pressure to get my MBA soon as I want to switch my career to some other industry before its too late. Hence I am targeting to take GMAT again in 2 months.

Please suggest.

[StaceyKoprince]

I'm sorry you had a disappointing test day.

First, you didn't fully prepare for the real test (you skipped essay and IR). Your Q and V scores were artificially inflated because you never had to spend 1 hour doing those (hard!) sections before you got to Q and V.

So that's at least part of the reason for the score drop.

Your study also seemed to focus almost exclusively on the academic topics, what we call the First Level of study. For example, you studied from a math textbook, not from a book designed to teach you how to handle GMAT questions. The GMAT is NOT a math test - it just uses math as a tool to test you on what it really wants to know.

Read this:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

And then this (the 2nd Level of study):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

Next, your most recent score is 490 and you want a 680 - about a 200-point improvement. It's unlikely that you'll accomplish this in 2 months - most people would need more time. It's also unlikely that you'll accomplish this without a serious revamp in the way in which you are studying.

The above two articles should give you a starting idea of how your prep fell short before. Start a reply to me right now and tell me how what you learned in the above two articles gives you different ideas about how you need to study.

You can also look here for more support:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

Then, AFTER you have done the above, use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Take into account the fact that you skipped essay and IR, so your performance was inflated. (In fact, you might want to take a new test under 100% official conditions this time.)

Figure out what you think you need to change based on that analysis. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)

[sohailmbaprep]

I'm sorry you had a disappointing test day.

First, you didn't fully prepare for the real test (you skipped essay and IR). Your Q and V scores were artificially inflated because you never had to spend 1 hour doing those (hard!) sections before you got to Q and V.

So that's at least part of the reason for the score drop.

Your study also seemed to focus almost exclusively on the academic topics, what we call the First Level of study. For example, you studied from a math textbook, not from a book designed to teach you how to handle GMAT questions. The GMAT is NOT a math test - it just uses math as a tool to test you on what it really wants to know.

Read this:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... lly-tests/

And then this (the 2nd Level of study):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

Next, your most recent score is 490 and you want a 680 - about a 200-point improvement. It's unlikely that you'll accomplish this in 2 months - most people would need more time. It's also unlikely that you'll accomplish this without a serious revamp in the way in which you are studying.

The above two articles should give you a starting idea of how your prep fell short before. Start a reply to me right now and tell me how what you learned in the above two articles gives you different ideas about how you need to study.

You can also look here for more support:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

Then, AFTER you have done the above, use the below to analyze your most recent MGMAT CAT(s):
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... ice-tests/

Take into account the fact that you skipped essay and IR, so your performance was inflated. (In fact, you might want to take a new test under 100% official conditions this time.)

Figure out what you think you need to change based on that analysis. Then come back here and tell us; we'll tell you whether we agree and advise you further. (Note: do share an analysis with us, not just the raw data. Part of getting better is developing your ability to analyze your results - figure out what they mean and what you think you should do about them!)

Stacey ,

I was eagerly waiting for your reply, your guidance at this moment in my GMAT(Retake) preparations means a lot to me , thanks for taking the time out and responding to my post.

After reading your reply I read lot of articles (on Manhattan and other websites) and did some retrospection and came out with below analysis :-

1) I understood one thing very clearly , I am always in hurry for everything, be it answering questions in test or scheduling GMAT (without proper preparations), I have to calm my mind first before restarting preparations for GMAT.
2) Other most important thing I learnt is more time spent on analyzing and understanding the question means less time spent on answering the question, that way accuracy will also increase.
3) Now I have given myself more than 2 months for preparations.
4) Henceforth, I will always take new tests under 100% official conditions

Your articles also helped me analyze my weaknesses.( I especially found your "How to Analyze ..." and "timing" article very helpful ).

My Weak points are :-

1) The huge one -- Pacing/Timing
2) In SC 50% of the time I couldn't figure out WHAT they were trying to test? (i am almost always in hurry to tick the answer) actually i never was interested to know that ,i tried to figure out split and tried to see which option sounded right .
3)In DS AND PS ,I could figure out what they are trying to ask but my approach wasn’t always right

Now my plan is :-

1) First thing First, I will take a Manhattan test on weekend and share with you my results and analysis.
2) Then, I will do whole OG ag ain with timer . Also will keep in mind the average time funda for solving questions
PS - 2 min
VA- 1.40 secs
3) Then every week I will take one test and analyze my weakness and work on it.
4) Once I see myself scoring well in tests,I will schedule GMAT and take it.

I have got two questions for you

1) While doing OG should I mix up questions from different sections or finish one section first and then move to next one ?
2) If needed which book should I use for 2nd level of learning.

Please suggest, whether you agree with my plan or you think I should change it.

Thanks !!

[djs53]

Good luck, bro. You're not alone.

[sohailmbaprep]

Good luck, bro. You're not alone.

Thanks Djs53 !!

[StaceyKoprince]

I am always in hurry for everything, be it answering questions in test or scheduling GMAT (without proper preparations), I have to calm my mind first before restarting preparations for GMAT.

Good. :)

Other most important thing I learnt is more time spent on analyzing and understanding the question means less time spent on answering the question, that way accuracy will also increase.

Yes... but accuracy is only half of what you're going for. You're actually going for the best decision-making based on the current situation (current problem), and sometimes the best decision is to guess and move on. This is not just the case when you're behind or something like that. No matter how good you get, you will always have to guess on some questions, because the mix of questions will keep getting harder and harder as you get better.

So part of what you're learning is how to tell when you CAN vs. CANNOT do something in a reasonable timeframe, so that you can make the best decision about whether to keep going or whether to guess and move on.

Read this for SC:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... em-part-1/

Also, go back to old, easier questions that you've done in the past and start trying out what that article says with those older questions.

For DS and PS, it sounds like you're saying you know the content, but you're struggling with the execution / solution process. Here's where you need the 2nd level of learning described in this article:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -the-gmat/

Seek out alternative solution methods - in our OG Archer program, on the forums, etc. After you finish a problem yourself, go back and ask yourself which parts of the math were most annoying and whether you can think of a different way to do the problem that would let you avoid those annoying bits.

Finally, make sure you get materials that specifically target the GMAT. You do NOT want to use textbook math solutions on this test. You want to learn the best test-taking solutions.

Okay, next - don't just do a million problems. Your biggest value comes when you analyze problems (that How To Analyze article that you referenced) - that's where you really learn! I'd far rather have you do fewer problems but really analyze / pick them apart.

And don't take a test every week - that's way too often. If you aren't finding at least 2-3 weeks' worth of work to do out of a test, then you aren't analyzing that test deeply enough.

Read this:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... many-cats/

When doing OG problem sets, do mix things up. Make it as much like the real test as possible - do DS and PS together, make the question sets pretty random. It's okay to choose some problems based on what you've been studying recently (eg, if you've been studying algebra, then do make a point of tossing a few algebra questions into the set - but not all).

Also, make sure you are doing SETS of questions, not one at a time. The test will never give you just one question. :)

Finally, for the 2nd level of learning - there isn't one book to use. This is how you learn for every single thing you're learning / doing / using all the time. Everything you do gets analyzed using the 10 How to Analyze questions. As you analyze, you figure out where you feel short and what "Know The Code" rules you need to come up with for yourself, based on your own strengths and weaknesses.

One person might need to make a note that "When I see <0 or >0, I need to think about that in terms of positive and negative." Another person might already know that but make a different note that "When I start a new PS problem, I need to glance quickly at the answers to see whether they have variables (maybe I can pick my own numbers) or whether they're really spread out (maybe I can estimate)." Etc.

Those are the kinds of things you're trying to learn. There isn't a list because that list would be 10,000 lines long - but you don't actually have 10,000 things to learn (and, anyway, nobody could memorize something like that). You already "get" certain things. You're trying to figure out the ones that you don't already know. (And the act of figuring them out will help you to understand and remember them.)

I'll wait to hear from you on your practice test analysis.

[punitpandia]

I'll wait to hear from you on your practice test analysis.

Hi Stacey,

After a gap of 45 days since my real GMAT ,I took fresh CAT -1 for self analysis.
I took the test in identical GMAT conditions and scored 570 (quant 37/verbal 31).
(Please note my real GMAT score was 490 (AWA 4.5 , IR 4 , Q 33 /VA 25))

As per your article "Evaluating Your Practice Tests" , my analysis for current test is given below

Overall :-
-------------------
1) Ran short of time in IR ..two questions unanswered.
2) All other sections completed in time.
3) Rushed a little at the last 10 questions in QA.
4) My QA is stronger than VA


QA Section Analysis:-
------------------------------
1) Spent around 3.5 mins for Q 9,13,20 and around 4.5 mins for Q 17,28,31 , got all of them incorrect too .(all were 700-800 level except one question and all came before Q31).
Any pattern here ?
2) Overall till question Q18 ,I was well within time limit. (though
took 3.5 min for Q9)
3) Messed up timing Between Q 19 and 31 and got behind by
3.5 mins after Q31.
4) Never got more than 2 Qs incorrect in a row but after
question Q 30 got straight 6 questions of 600-700 level
incorrect as I was in rush.
5) DS is lot weaker than PS , even got 500-600 level question
incorrect in DS , but PS is overall okay (though struggle with
700-800 level PS Qs) .
6) Got All 700-800 Qs incorrect .
7) All , way too fast Qs were correct.

What I will do now for QA :-
------------------------
1) Concentrate on DS part more than PS.
2) Learn to let go at times, I mean guess and move quickly for questions where I am unable to get answer in right time.
3) Work on below topics :-
Number properties,Decimals, & Percents ,Rates & Work,Algebraic Translations
4) Practise OG again with OG archer or normal timer tool.

Questions regarding QA:-
----------------------------------------------
1) Since only 5-6 questions in the whole section messed up my
timing a little , I am confused ,what do you say about my
timing.
2) How to know if I am taking extra time in a particular question.
Instead of 10 questions , would you recommend me to check
time after every 5 Qs.
3) For 4 out of 6 questions that I got incorrect in a row ,I never
got a feeling that I was getting them wrong. Why so ?

Verbal
--------------
1) Did not rush anytime
2) Got questions wrong within right time
3) Don’t think timing is a problem in Verbal
4) SC is okay but CR is weaker.
5) got all 700-800 level CR question wrong
6) 4 times got 3 consecutive questions wrong

What I will do now for VA:-
-------------------------------------
1) Will work on SC pronoun and comparisons.
2) Will work on below topics
RC specific detail question
RC Main Idea and Inference question
CR weaken and strengthen the argument
CR assumption questions
3) Practise OG 13 again with OG Archer or timer tool.

Note:- Before my real GMAT ,I took 6 CATs and my score in
QA was always between 37-44 and in
VA was always between 27-33

General Questions:-
---------------------------------
1)Did I miss out anything in Analysis ?
2) Its mentioned in many forums that don’t get too many
questions incorrect in a row. But how much is too many , any
specific number here (for QA and VA both)?
3) Will getting 2-3 more questions correct in both section push
my score to 650 ?

Please let me know what to feel about my analysis and what else would you like to suggest me.



Wanted to attach my Assessment Summary and Problem lists , just in case you wanted to have a look at them.But couldn't find out how to do it.

Eagerly waiting for your response .

Thanks !!

[StaceyKoprince]

Spent around 3.5 mins for Q 9,13,20 and around 4.5 mins for Q 17,28,31 , got all of them incorrect too .(all were 700-800 level except one question and all came before Q31).
Any pattern here ?

What do you think? Remember, I want you to tell me your analysis, not just give me the data. If you don't learn how to figure this out for yourself... :)

To me, yes, there's a very clear pattern. You're not cutting yourself off on problems that are WAY too hard.

And you probably also missed other questions where you had to rush because you spent too much time elsewhere. That's going to bring your score down even more.

We call that "up and down" timing (too slow, then too fast, then too slow, then too fast) and it is NEVER associated with the score you want. :)

Read these and start doing what they say:
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -to-do-it/
http://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... nt-part-1/

DS is lot weaker than PS

Are you SURE about that? How was your timing on DS? Here's what I see a lot: people spend way too much time on PS questions, then rush on DS to catch up, so they make a bunch of mistakes on DS that they might not make if they weren't rushing. Then they think they're bad at DS, when really they're just not giving themselves enough time. Could this be happening to you?

Here is a resource on all story problems in general:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... them-real/

Here's a resource on SC; start practicing this process:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... em-part-1/

And RC:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... rehension/

And CR:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... reasoning/

Its mentioned in many forums that don’t get too many
questions incorrect in a row. But how much is too many , any
specific number here (for QA and VA both)?

You have nearly zero control over whether you get questions wrong in a row. You can't say 'oh, I think I got the last three wrong, so I'll make sure to get this one right." If it's too hard, it's too hard - nothing we can do.

The only thing you can do is reduce the chance that you'll get a bunch of problems wrong simply due to speed or mental fatigue. You need to learn to balance your time better so that you are not having to rush anywhere on the test. And you need to make sure that you are practicing under official conditions (with essay and IR) so that your brain really knows what it feels like to take a full test. Beyond that, forget completely about this issue. :)

Will getting 2-3 more questions correct in both section push
my score to 650 ?

Nope. The test is not scored based on % correct. Getting 2-3 DIFFERENT questions right MAY lift your score (but not from 570 to 650) and you'll then just get other harder questions that you'll get wrong... so you'll still ultimately get about the same number of questions wrong.

Go work on that timing - that will definitely make a difference to your score. :)